In Memoriam

We Remember

Sister Helen Walsh, known also as Sister Rose Michaeleen, was born in Chicago on June 15, 1920. She was the second oldest of six children born to William and Rosemary (O’Sullivan) Walsh.

Her parents were married at St. Bride Church on Thanksgiving Day in 1917. Because her dad was serving in the army, the couple walked out of church beneath an arch of soldier’s swords in military style. When the war ended, her father returned to his law practice.

In her autobiography, Sister Helen described the arrival of her five siblings and the gifts of her parents.

The first child, Rosemary, was born on November 1, 1918, in a military hospital in Battle Creek, Michigan. Soon the war ended and the family moved to Port Huron, my father’s birthplace. When I was expected, my father took my mother back to Chicago, where he felt the best doctors could be had. However because of the speed of my arrival, a hospital intern was in charge and I arrived late on Sunday night June 15, 1920, at South Shore Hospital. When I was four, my brother Billie was born and the story was later told that I asked my mother if she could return him get a baby that didn’t cry so much. My last three siblings, Nan, Mary Jo and Joe, were born in Port Huron and all were surrounded by doting relatives.

How well I remember Sr. Rose Michaeleen, principal of St. Dominic's where I and my siblings attended school in Detroit, MI. I was one of her students in a combination 7th-8th grade classroom. She was a marvelous teacher as well as principal. Our family resided in the Jeffries Housing Project which Sister mentioned in her writings. Though many of us were desperately poor at that time, our Dominican education and influence of the good Dominican priests at St. Dominic's guided us to have successful and fulfilling lives. RIP, Sr. Rose Michaeleen!

Our Adrian Dominican cemetery with its circular headstones is a beautiful place of rest for women who gave their lives in service to God—and a peaceful place for contemplation and remembrance.

We will post memorial reflections on our faithfully departed Sisters and Associates. If you would like to reflect on a Sister or Associate who has gone before us, please send your reflections – no more than 500 to 600 words – to
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